Fábio Carvalho, on loan from Liverpool, has been signed by RB Leipzig as a replacement for Dominik Szoboszlai. Carvalho, a 20-year-old Portuguese player, is seen as a key part of Leipzig’s strategy to fill the gap left by Szoboszlai, who joined Premier League club Liverpool in a €70 million deal. Carvalho, however, is confident in his abilities and believes he can give his best to Leipzig.
Szoboszlai, known for his creative output, scored 20 goals and made 22 assists in 91 games for Leipzig. Carvalho’s task will be to replace some of this production at his new club. When comparing the two players on statistics platform Wyscout, Carvalho’s shot statistics were similar to Szoboszlai’s. While Szoboszlai averaged 2.14 shots per 90 minutes, Carvalho averaged 2.06 shots per minute. Carvalho also had a higher conversion rate at 17.647% compared to Szoboszlai’s 10.577%.
Tactically, there may be some differences between Carvalho and Szoboszlai. Carvalho sees himself as a no. 10, whereas Szoboszlai often played on the wing. Carvalho believes his position at Liverpool on the left did not work out because he was promised a different role. He thrives as a no. 10, where he can be more involved in the attack.
Carvalho is confident that he will be a better fit at Leipzig under coach Marco Rose than he was at Liverpool under Jürgen Klopp. Rose has told Carvalho that he will be one of the no. 10s and has been helping him improve his position. Rose is focusing on Carvalho’s off-the-ball work, which is essential for Leipzig’s pressing style of play.
Carvalho’s experience at Liverpool was not as positive in terms of communication. He did not receive any advice from Klopp about his new club and had to learn on his own. Transfermarkt understands that Carvalho was not part of Klopp‘s plans and was pushed onto him by people no longer involved in Liverpool‘s transfer business. It remains to be seen whether Carvalho’s future will be at Liverpool, Leipzig, or another club.
Carvalho’s performance in the Bundesliga and Champions League this season will play a significant role in determining his future. Leipzig will rely on him to fill the void left by Szoboszlai and contribute to the team’s success. Carvalho’s confidence in his abilities and belief in himself will be crucial in his journey with Leipzig.
